Does India Deserve The Credit for Satnam Singh, Dinesh Patel or Others Like Them?

Satnam Singh has become the talk of the town after he made it to the NBA Draft. We are all proud of him not because he is a basketball player but because he is from India. But does India actually deserve the credit?

In above interview, Satnam Singh told a reporter that there is no hope for players in Punjab and India because there isn’t any help available for athletes. He expressed his disappointment that many players can make a difference internationally but due to circumstances never come forward. Many of his friends who were given jobs are now unemployed as their jobs have been taken back, hence are being abused by their families for the time devoted to the games and ending up unemployed.

Anger of Satnam Singh seems totally justified. Before Satnam Singh started training in the US, he was at the Ludhiana Basketball Academy (LBA) which has produced 40 international players with many employed in government jobs. But in reality the academy is in a deteriorated condition with the no basic amenities such as clean water, functional toilets, cleaning staff and no food from April to June due to excuses like college vacations.

This is not the plight of just one academy but many a times such situations have been highlighted, earlier as well. In a country that preaches cricket, these are many athletes, who found their calling in a different sport halfway across the world. Similar to Satnam Singh,in 2009 Dinesh Patel and Rinku Singh became the first Indians to play baseball at the professional level in the USA. Both youngsters got involved in javelin-throwing and earned medals in national competitions at junior and school levels. But they also moved to USA, after getting better opportunities there.

We have corporates coming up and recognizing young talent but still a lot needs to be done for the promotion of games like basketball, hockey, and football. Government should work with the sports federations towards building world class facilities such as the state of the art gyms, coaches, physios, counselors, and nutritionists. This will not only produce world-class sportsmen but will also allow them to have a fighting chance at an international stage.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) To Launch Nonpareil Training Academy In India In April 2017

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An Army Colonel Is Changing Lives Of Thousand Of People From North-East Using White Bullets

Retiring after spending 32 years in the Indian Army, Col Chris Rego is helping change the destinies of hundreds of children in conflict-affected North East India through his “White Bullets” initiative. With this initiative, he hopes to bring peace and progress to communities across North East India.

Luminouswanted to bring out the Colonel’s story to the world to inspire and motivate others as it believes that education is a strong tool to empower women. It is supporting Col Rego’s cause through an initiative called #Luminaries – the brave people who stand up for causes like girl child education and make a difference in the society.

Col Rego’s journey started over a decade ago in Manipur when a tribal woman knocked on his door pleading for support for her daughter’s education. Touched by the woman’s story, Col Rego and his wife delved into their savings and arranged for the money for the girl’s education. Two years down the line, the woman returned, this time with a small pumpkin and a shawl that she had knitted, and all the money she had borrowed. Moved and realizing that their money could make lives rather than earn paltry interest, Col and Mrs. Rego embarked on a journey to arrange for sponsorship of many more underprivileged children.

Retiring from the Army, Col Rego took over as CEO of Sunbird Trust, a not-for-profit organization which he founded in 2014. The Trust now sponsor over 1,000 children in 21 locations acrossNorth East India. The centre of Sunbird Trust’s activities is at beautiful Ijeirong, Manipur.

Recognizing Col Chris’s immense work, Luminousacknowledged him as their first Luminary. Through this, they hope to bring more power to his elbow in the notable work he is doing. The Luminousteam travelled to remote Ijeirong village and installed solar products. These solar products will help in providing power to the entire campus 24/7 for the very first time.

The Logical Indian salutes Col Christopher Rego for his untiring efforts and leadership. His efforts are already having a cascading effect on people from across India joining the “White Bullets” endeavour. Quite amazingly, education, in itself so empowering, is merely a means to PEACE. We hope the path illuminated by #Luminary Col Rego and his Sunbird Trust team acts as a beacon for others to follow.

If you too have stories of change, share them with us. And if you want to connect with Colonel Rego, click here.